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Correspondence
CORRESPONDENCE
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .
THE COMMEMORATIVE LIFEBOATS
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . SIR , —Your correspondent , " A South Devon P . M ., " in his letter on the above subject , says that" Lucretius" had stated " that Dartmouth was the only spot between Torbay and Plymouth where a lifeboat , to be of any use , should be placed . " I am sure that gentleman will
permit me to say that I did not examine or speak of the coast below Salcombe . I waa most solicitous about the district , of which I coneider Dartmouth the centre , because of the distressing shipwrecks which are constantly taking place there , and I hope that the lifeboat , which I find has already been built and paid for , will soon be placed
on the pontoon which is to be erected for her reception . I may say that I have heard Hope Cove spoken favourably of ; but , personally , I know nothing of its eligibility for a lifeboat station . There is much to approve in the other remarks of " A South Devon P . M ., " and if I might take the liberty , I would point ont to him the desirability of
placing lifeboats at Scilly , where in ten years 415 persons were drowned , and property to the extent of one million pounds sterling was lost . I have brought these facts prominently before some of the leading men of this kingdom , and I shall be gratified by your allowing me to do so in your own excellent journal . I should like to see my countrymen act more upon well ascertained principles , and less npon
impulse , so that provision should be made before catastrophes occur in order to lessen the mournful consequences which too often follow . Perhaps you will allow me to add , that among the designs which have been submitted to me for the saving of life on these terribly destructive coasts is that of a telegraph buoy , invented by Mr . Festing of the Control Office , and which I have submitted to the consideration of the Board of Trade .
Faithfully yours , LUCRETIUS Tregiskey House , Cornwall , 3 rd April 1877 .
CRAFT MASONRY AND THE HIGH GRADES . To the Editor of Ins FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In reference to tho seal which I described , and concerning which " P . T . T . " wrote last week , I may say that my reasons for calling it " official" are , that it is far too massive and clumsy to have ever been intended for a " trinket" or even for private
use . You will see , from the impression I sent yon , what are the dimen . Bions of the face . The handle is of hard wood , ending in a large knob about three inches in diameter . I quite agree with your correspondent , that there is nothing surprising in the combination of emblems , and only sent you a description
of the seal because I regarded it as a link in that very strong chain of evidence which exists that , until the revival of 1717 , Freemasonry was essentially Christian in its teachings , and that it was not until Borne years after that date that the " nniversality " doctrine , which we now regard as the essence of the thing , was accepted throughout this country .
Yours fraternally , T . B . W HMEHIAD , 18 ° York , 2 nd April .
THE JEWISH QUESTION . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . Dear Sir and Brother , —It hardly appears to me to be worth while discussing the question whether a few years since a particular candidate professing Christianity was or was not refused admission into one of our so-called Jewish Lodges . The fact is pretty generally
known throughout the Craft , that both now and in years gone by , these Lodges have always been included Jews and Christians among their members , though the former wero superior numerically . The issue which tho Montefiore and Joppa Lodges have raised is an important one , and , as you have pointed out , involves a
question of principle , the importance of -which cannot be exaggerated , What I hope , is , that the Lodges , be they so-called Jewish or not , which have initiated the present movement , will persevere until their object is attained . This , as far as my judgment goes , I take to be either that our Grand Lodge shall successfully press the recognition
of the admissibility of Jews into Freemasonry upon the Berlin Grand Lodge or Lodges which now reject it , or as yon have suggested , abstain from further official intercourse with it or them , till recognition is accorded . They have thus far obtained a fair measure of success ; let them work with all the greater diligence , and I feel certain they will carry their point . Yours fraternally , T . P . 0 .
Correspondence
MASONS OF MANY DEGREES . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your extract under the above heading from the Voice of Masonry , haa appeared very opportunely . I feel quite sure that unprejudiced brethren of experience in this country will admit that a largo proportion of working Craft Masons are also
working members of the higher degrees . Occasionally , it is true , one hears disparaging remark * made with regard to the high grades , but these always come , aa might be anticipated , from brethren who have nofc taken those degrees , and who therefore speak " foolishly . " The fact is , the study of Masonry is so thoronghly absorbing to those
who take it up in a right spirit that few who once enter upon ifc are content ( unless prevented by religious disabilities or opinions ) to remain ignorant of any Masonio teachings or curiosities of ritual whioh come within their reach . Depend upon it your Mason who sneers at what he does not comprehend , and who declines to be enlightened , is a Mason in name only . I am , yours fraternally , T . B . W .
QUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —A few months back a candidate presented himself at Lodge Victoria in Bnrmah , No . 832 , for initiation , a foreigner , when it was discovered by brethren that his knowledge of English was so limited that he barely understood hia O . B . It waa
discovered further that he could not read nor write any language . Ifc waa again discovered that in the Tyler ' s book a brother had signed for the initiate " his x mark . Witnessed by Tyler !!! " And , to cap all , that the application and declaration had been signed by the candidate ' s wife !!!
The District Grand Secretary reported the whole matter to the Deputy District Grand Master . An inquiry was held by the District Grand Lodge Committee , and a report submitted to the District Grand Lodge . A warm discussion ensued , technical objections being raised regarding the powers and procedure of the District Grand Lodge
Committee and the District Grand Lodge . The compromise arrived at , whioh you have noticed in your paper of the 20 th January , was that the initiate should satisfy the Deputy District Grand Master of hit qualifications before he was advanced to a higher degree , and on the 12 th September it is declared that the candidate having satisfied the Deputy District Grand Master that he was able to read and write ,
permission waa granted to confer the second and third degrees . Meanwhile the candidate has learned to sign hia name . Can the Deputy District Grand Master or the District Grand Lodge condone such conduct on the part of a private Lodge ? What is the punishment to be meted ont to the private Lodge , its Master and Wardens , for its and their neglect ? What precedent can be cited for or against the Lodge ?
Yours fratornally , A BURMAH MASON Rangoon , 3 rd March 1877 .
APPROACHING ELECTION FOR THE BOYS ' SCHOOL .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIR , —It seematometobe very desirable in our election of boys for admission into the Royal Masonio Institution that a rule should be adopted by the Committee , if the proposal should meet with their approbation , that an orphan boy , a son of a deceased Freemason , who
has been unsuccessful in his application seven times , and has not yefc attained to the age of exclusion , should be received on the foundation without further election . Snch an act of grace would be welcomed by the Craft throughout , the country , and be rewarded by additional support to the funds . There is such a case now standing on the list
of candidates , viz ., that of George Samuel Cox . What is the widowed mother with her four orphan children to do , nnder the oppressive circumstances of struggling with poverty p Masonry expects and professes something more than " Be ye warmed , and be ye clothed . " This case I know to be a deplorable one , and will nofc the Craft assist ?
I remain , Sir , very faithfully yours , DANIEL ACE , D . D ., P . M . 1232 , and P . G . C . for Lincolnshire Langhton Vicarage , near Gainsborough , 4 th April 1877 .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —May I ask you kindly to insert this letter in your next issue . I wish to plead for tho little boy George Samuel Cox , the first on the list of applicants for admission into the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . It is his 7 th application , and ho can only stand one moro election . Ho is the son of the late Bro . James
Cox , who was initiated into Freemasonry in 1862 , and who was successively W . M . and , until the time of his death , Secretary of tho Fortitude Lodge , No . 1 G 5 , Plymouth . Onr brother Cox was for cloven years master of tho Stonehouse workhouse , and , on his retirement in order to take a better position , he was presented with a handsome testimonial . He then became master of the Model Workhouse , Devonport . Since his death , his widow has been supporting herself
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence
CORRESPONDENCE
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .
THE COMMEMORATIVE LIFEBOATS
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . SIR , —Your correspondent , " A South Devon P . M ., " in his letter on the above subject , says that" Lucretius" had stated " that Dartmouth was the only spot between Torbay and Plymouth where a lifeboat , to be of any use , should be placed . " I am sure that gentleman will
permit me to say that I did not examine or speak of the coast below Salcombe . I waa most solicitous about the district , of which I coneider Dartmouth the centre , because of the distressing shipwrecks which are constantly taking place there , and I hope that the lifeboat , which I find has already been built and paid for , will soon be placed
on the pontoon which is to be erected for her reception . I may say that I have heard Hope Cove spoken favourably of ; but , personally , I know nothing of its eligibility for a lifeboat station . There is much to approve in the other remarks of " A South Devon P . M ., " and if I might take the liberty , I would point ont to him the desirability of
placing lifeboats at Scilly , where in ten years 415 persons were drowned , and property to the extent of one million pounds sterling was lost . I have brought these facts prominently before some of the leading men of this kingdom , and I shall be gratified by your allowing me to do so in your own excellent journal . I should like to see my countrymen act more upon well ascertained principles , and less npon
impulse , so that provision should be made before catastrophes occur in order to lessen the mournful consequences which too often follow . Perhaps you will allow me to add , that among the designs which have been submitted to me for the saving of life on these terribly destructive coasts is that of a telegraph buoy , invented by Mr . Festing of the Control Office , and which I have submitted to the consideration of the Board of Trade .
Faithfully yours , LUCRETIUS Tregiskey House , Cornwall , 3 rd April 1877 .
CRAFT MASONRY AND THE HIGH GRADES . To the Editor of Ins FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In reference to tho seal which I described , and concerning which " P . T . T . " wrote last week , I may say that my reasons for calling it " official" are , that it is far too massive and clumsy to have ever been intended for a " trinket" or even for private
use . You will see , from the impression I sent yon , what are the dimen . Bions of the face . The handle is of hard wood , ending in a large knob about three inches in diameter . I quite agree with your correspondent , that there is nothing surprising in the combination of emblems , and only sent you a description
of the seal because I regarded it as a link in that very strong chain of evidence which exists that , until the revival of 1717 , Freemasonry was essentially Christian in its teachings , and that it was not until Borne years after that date that the " nniversality " doctrine , which we now regard as the essence of the thing , was accepted throughout this country .
Yours fraternally , T . B . W HMEHIAD , 18 ° York , 2 nd April .
THE JEWISH QUESTION . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . Dear Sir and Brother , —It hardly appears to me to be worth while discussing the question whether a few years since a particular candidate professing Christianity was or was not refused admission into one of our so-called Jewish Lodges . The fact is pretty generally
known throughout the Craft , that both now and in years gone by , these Lodges have always been included Jews and Christians among their members , though the former wero superior numerically . The issue which tho Montefiore and Joppa Lodges have raised is an important one , and , as you have pointed out , involves a
question of principle , the importance of -which cannot be exaggerated , What I hope , is , that the Lodges , be they so-called Jewish or not , which have initiated the present movement , will persevere until their object is attained . This , as far as my judgment goes , I take to be either that our Grand Lodge shall successfully press the recognition
of the admissibility of Jews into Freemasonry upon the Berlin Grand Lodge or Lodges which now reject it , or as yon have suggested , abstain from further official intercourse with it or them , till recognition is accorded . They have thus far obtained a fair measure of success ; let them work with all the greater diligence , and I feel certain they will carry their point . Yours fraternally , T . P . 0 .
Correspondence
MASONS OF MANY DEGREES . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your extract under the above heading from the Voice of Masonry , haa appeared very opportunely . I feel quite sure that unprejudiced brethren of experience in this country will admit that a largo proportion of working Craft Masons are also
working members of the higher degrees . Occasionally , it is true , one hears disparaging remark * made with regard to the high grades , but these always come , aa might be anticipated , from brethren who have nofc taken those degrees , and who therefore speak " foolishly . " The fact is , the study of Masonry is so thoronghly absorbing to those
who take it up in a right spirit that few who once enter upon ifc are content ( unless prevented by religious disabilities or opinions ) to remain ignorant of any Masonio teachings or curiosities of ritual whioh come within their reach . Depend upon it your Mason who sneers at what he does not comprehend , and who declines to be enlightened , is a Mason in name only . I am , yours fraternally , T . B . W .
QUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —A few months back a candidate presented himself at Lodge Victoria in Bnrmah , No . 832 , for initiation , a foreigner , when it was discovered by brethren that his knowledge of English was so limited that he barely understood hia O . B . It waa
discovered further that he could not read nor write any language . Ifc waa again discovered that in the Tyler ' s book a brother had signed for the initiate " his x mark . Witnessed by Tyler !!! " And , to cap all , that the application and declaration had been signed by the candidate ' s wife !!!
The District Grand Secretary reported the whole matter to the Deputy District Grand Master . An inquiry was held by the District Grand Lodge Committee , and a report submitted to the District Grand Lodge . A warm discussion ensued , technical objections being raised regarding the powers and procedure of the District Grand Lodge
Committee and the District Grand Lodge . The compromise arrived at , whioh you have noticed in your paper of the 20 th January , was that the initiate should satisfy the Deputy District Grand Master of hit qualifications before he was advanced to a higher degree , and on the 12 th September it is declared that the candidate having satisfied the Deputy District Grand Master that he was able to read and write ,
permission waa granted to confer the second and third degrees . Meanwhile the candidate has learned to sign hia name . Can the Deputy District Grand Master or the District Grand Lodge condone such conduct on the part of a private Lodge ? What is the punishment to be meted ont to the private Lodge , its Master and Wardens , for its and their neglect ? What precedent can be cited for or against the Lodge ?
Yours fratornally , A BURMAH MASON Rangoon , 3 rd March 1877 .
APPROACHING ELECTION FOR THE BOYS ' SCHOOL .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIR , —It seematometobe very desirable in our election of boys for admission into the Royal Masonio Institution that a rule should be adopted by the Committee , if the proposal should meet with their approbation , that an orphan boy , a son of a deceased Freemason , who
has been unsuccessful in his application seven times , and has not yefc attained to the age of exclusion , should be received on the foundation without further election . Snch an act of grace would be welcomed by the Craft throughout , the country , and be rewarded by additional support to the funds . There is such a case now standing on the list
of candidates , viz ., that of George Samuel Cox . What is the widowed mother with her four orphan children to do , nnder the oppressive circumstances of struggling with poverty p Masonry expects and professes something more than " Be ye warmed , and be ye clothed . " This case I know to be a deplorable one , and will nofc the Craft assist ?
I remain , Sir , very faithfully yours , DANIEL ACE , D . D ., P . M . 1232 , and P . G . C . for Lincolnshire Langhton Vicarage , near Gainsborough , 4 th April 1877 .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —May I ask you kindly to insert this letter in your next issue . I wish to plead for tho little boy George Samuel Cox , the first on the list of applicants for admission into the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . It is his 7 th application , and ho can only stand one moro election . Ho is the son of the late Bro . James
Cox , who was initiated into Freemasonry in 1862 , and who was successively W . M . and , until the time of his death , Secretary of tho Fortitude Lodge , No . 1 G 5 , Plymouth . Onr brother Cox was for cloven years master of tho Stonehouse workhouse , and , on his retirement in order to take a better position , he was presented with a handsome testimonial . He then became master of the Model Workhouse , Devonport . Since his death , his widow has been supporting herself